Central School Board President Says Education Reform Plan Needs Review

Letter to the Editor

To: State Legislators representing Central Community Schools

Lady and Gentlemen:

I am sure you are under considerable pressure to support the Governor’s entire education package.  I am well aware that there are areas in education which need to be addressed.  We, however, do not need to throw the baby out with the bathwater.  His proposals dealing with funding, teacher evaluation, school governance, early childhood education, and school choice have been designed by people who have little or no experience in education and seem to know nothing about what empirical research has demonstrated.

These proposals, if adopted without careful consideration of the results, will completely dismantle public education.

Central has demonstrated that public schools can work and work very well.  Other public school systems have also demonstrated this.  I can see all the work this community has done over the last five years go completely for naught.  It would be nice if you had talked to our board about how this will affect us.

Supt. Faulk has forgotten more about school finance and school governance than the Governor’s advisors will ever know.  I know that several of you have spoken briefly with him, but you need to commit to protecting those areas that the Governor does not seem to understand at all.  I am not sure if he has hidden addenda items within his proposal, but it would not be the first time such practice has taken place.

I want you to know that this community will hold you accountable to protect the interests of your constituents and in particular the Central Community School System rather than the interest of the Governor.

Please stand up and represent those who have worked to put you in the position to protect us and our schools.

Dr. Jim Gardner, President

Central Community Schools